Linotype-machine.



PATENTED NDV. 2o, V1906.

P. T. DODGE. LINOTYPE MACHINE.

L i l v I '4 ...www .mww

. .PIII m .....wHuMHMmwmM/u. k n* NAR .n

plum

PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

P. T. DODGE.

- LINOTYPE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25.1906.

S'SHEETS-SHBBT 2 fig 4 514m@ who@ @0 wap/@MQ PATENTED NOV. 20, 1906.

P. T. DODGE. LINOTYPE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED .T UNE 25. 1906.

slug,

vUNITED sTATEs PHILIP T. DODGE,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO MERGEN- h LINOTYPE-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 20, 1906.

Application filed June 25,1906. Serial No. 323,258.

To all whom it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP T. DODGE, of the borough of Brooklyn, countyof Kings,

and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement inLinotype-Machines, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention has reference to linotypemachines, such as shown in UnitedStates Letters Patent No. 436,532, and analogous machines whereinmatrices representing the characters to appear in one line of print areassembled or composed in the proper order and the line presented infront of the mold in order to formthe type characters on the edge of aslug or linotype cast therein.

In practice the mold is adjusted to produce slugs of uniform length; butin setting advertising matter, headings, and the like the type-line,frequently shorter than the must be centrally located thereon.Heretofore this has been accomplished by filling the line to the rightand left of the matrices containing type characters with quads or blankmatrices-an operation involving considerable skill and a substantialloss of time.

' My invention is designed to overcome the loss of time; and to this endit consists,

broadly, in automatic means acting to locate the matrix-line, regardlessof its length, centrally in relation to the mold and also to cover andclose the ends of the mold extending beyond the matrix-line.

The invention is capable of embodiment in many forms. Any mechanismwhich will automatically advance the two matrix-coniining jaws having awide range of movement to points equallydistant from a central line willanswer the purpose in view In the drawings I have represented myimprovement in connection withy the mechanism shown in United Statespatent to J. R. Rogers, No. 786,155, Vfonadvancing the righthand jawwhen the ,line is to b e quadded fout at one end only.

I am aware that means have been provided l i -for manually changing thedistance between *the jaws and for manually changing the operativeposition of either jaw at will; but

these4 mechanisms are not to be confused the preceding figures, the

with my structure adapted to receive and automatically centermatrix-lines of different lengths. The drawings show only those partswhich are immediately associated with my invention. The remainingpfiirts may be of the ordinary or any other suitable construction.

Figure l is a rear face view ofthe so-called vise mechanism of theMergenthaler machine having my improvements incorporated therein, theparts being adjusted to center a matrix-line of any length which may bepre.

sented. Fig. 18L is a similar view of the mechanism adjusted to producea short line of characters on one end of the slug and automaticallyquadded out the remainder of the line. Fig. 2 is a vertical centralsection from front to rear on the line 2 2,l Fig: 1. Fig. 3 is a similarsection on the line 3 3, Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a planview of the parts shownin mold and the adj acent mouth of the melting-pot being shown inhorizontal section. Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing theproduct of the machine with the parts adjusted as in Figs. 1 and la,respectively.

Referring that portion of the stationary main frame which gives supportto the matrix-clamping devices and which is commonly known as thevise-frame.

H and I are two opposed jaws mounted to slide in a horizontal guidewayin the vise-A frame for the purpose of coniining thematriX- line betweenthem while it is inthe casting position in front of the mold. Zrepresents the matrices representing individual characters and assembledin lme in the order in which the characters are to appear inprint.

K represents the wedge spacers or justiiers' seated in the line betweenthe matrices for the purpose of elongating or justifying the line to thepredetermined length when' :lines of maximum length are to be produced.

In castingheadings, advertisements, '&c.,

to the drawings, A represents the usual blank matrices or spaces may beused i'n place of the wedge-spacers. The

matrices are lowered to their position bev tween the jaws H and I andare suspended in the casting positin by the usual verticallyf movablesupport G, known as the first elevator. The transfer of the matrix-lineto this elevator preparatory' to the lowering of the line is effected,as usual, by a horizontallymovable transfer-carriage having twodepending fingers e2 e3, between which the line is held While beingmoved horizontally into the elevator, all in a manner well understood bythose skilled in the art and described in the patents above referred to,particularly Patents Nos. 436,532 and 786,155.

In the operation of the machine as ordinarily constructed theline-confining jaws H and I are always separated a distance equal to thelength of the mold and the slug to be produced therein, and if thematrices representing the characters form a line shorter than the moldthe line is filled out by the use of blank matrices or quads addedduring the composition of the line.

In the Rogers structure before referred to and shown in the Patent No.786,155 the line-carrying finger e2 acts on a projection on the jaw Iand advances the latter toward the jaw H, standing at one end ofv themold, until arrested by the intervening matrix-line. If therefore amatrix-line is shorter than the mold, it is confined by the advance ofthe jaw I, which at the same time covers and closes the end of the moldwhich is not covered by matrices, so that a smooth or blank surface isformed on one end of the slug beyond the type characters.

In the present embodiment of my invention I have retained thisorganization, and I utilize the advance of the jaw I to eHect an equaladvance of the opposing jaw H. To this end I pivot to the vise-frame anangular lever L, the upper end of which is connected through the link Mwith the jaw I, while its lower end acts through intermediate parts on asecond angular lever L', pivoted to the viseframe and connected at itsupper end by alink M or otherwise with the jaw H. The two levers may beconnected in any suitable manner. In the arrangement shown the lever Lbears on a collar g, which in turn bears on the end of the lever L'. Thecollar g is formed on a verticallyuided rod Q, which also carries asecond col ar g', acting beneath the lever L', `as shown in Fig. 1.

A spring R, bearing beneath a third collar on the rod Q, tends to liftthe rod and, through the intermediate levers, to effect the separationof the aws.

The parts operate as follows: The fingers e2 and e3, advancing in thedirection indicated by the large arrow, present the matrixline inposition to be lowered between the tvro jaws, and at the same time thefinger e2, advancing the jaw I through the levers Land L', causes acorresponding advance of the opposed jaW H. In this manner the two jawsare advanced equally in opposite directions toward ,the central line,confining the matrixline, whatever its length, between them, so'

that it is located centrally in relation to the mold.

It will be observed that each jaw has a Wide and unrestricted range ofmovement and that the line of matrices determines the operative distancebetween the aws, so that the machine will automatically adjust a line ofany length without special regulation of the arts.

T 1e ends of the mold projecting beyond the matrix-line are covered andclosed at the front by the respective jaws, which produce smoothsurfaces thereon, so that the slug or linotype produced will appear asshown in Fig. 5, with the type characters at the center and blank spacesat the two ends.

When it 1s required. to have a short line of type characters appear atone end of the slug with a blank surface for the remainder of itslength, it is only necessary to throw out of action the lever L', sothat the jaw H n'lay remain at rest at its outermost position at one endof the mold. The advancing jaw I will carry the matrix-line over againstthe jaw H and will also close that portion of the mold which extendsbeyond the matrices in essentially the same manner as in the Rogersmechanism.

In order to prevent the lever L from` actuating the lever L', the collarq is cut away on one side of the center, so that by rotating the rod Q,which is provided with a handle V for the purpose, as shown in Fig. 2,the collar may be thrown out of the path of the lever L.

For the purpose of locking the jaws in position during the castingaction, so that the matrix-line may be confined to the roper length, andto resist the expanding in uence of the wedges K when they are used Iprovide each jaw on the upper side with a series of ratchet-teeth andmount in the frame pawls h5 and i5 to engage the respective jaws.

In the ordinary operation of the machine it is necessary that thematrix-line shall be slightly relieved from end pressure duringjustification and also after the casting action preparatory to its beinglifted for distribution. To this end the pawls h5 are pivoted to a leverU, having its upper end pivoted to the vise-frame and its lower endacted upon by a block P, receiving motion from a verticallymovable wedgeW, which will be actuated by the usual cam mechanism of the machine inthe same manner that a similar wedge is now operated to adjust theleft-hand jaw of the commercial linotype.

The awls i5, holding the jaw I, are connected y a slot and pin i9 with alever fil, acted upon by a lifting-spring is and by a depressing-fingeron the end of the elevator G. When the elevator descends with thematrix-line it depresses the lever i', and the pawls are permitted toengage the jaw. When IOO IIO

the elevator rises the spring is lifts the pawls out of engagement,leaving the jaw free to retreat. The pawls h5 are. controlled by asimilar mechanism, being connected to a slot and pin h" with a lever k7,acted upon by a depressing-ringer on'the elevator G and by alifting-spring hs. The lost motion between thepawls'h5 and i5 and theircontrolling-levers permits the pawls to ride over the teeth of whichthey are automatically and equally advanced in order to centrally locatethe matriX-line regardless of its length and of the length of the mold,and while I prefer to use connections essentially such as herein shownand while one jaw in advancing effects the corresponding movement of theother jaw it will be understood by a skilled mechanic that the inventionembraces any mechanism by which the two jaws .may be automatically andequally moved in' opposite directions, and it will be perceived thatthis mechanism may be made in a great variety oi forms without departingfrom the general mode of action herein described.

Having described myl invention, what I claim is- 1. In alinotype-machine, the combination' of amold, two vopposed jaws toconfine the matrix-line, and means for automatically advancing the jawstoward'a central point until arrested by the intervening matrices,whereby the line may be centered in relation to the mold.

2. In a linotype-machine containing circulating matrices, thecombination of a mold, means controlled by thematrices for automaticallycentering the matrix-line regardless oi the length of the mold, and forclosing the front of the mold beyond the matrices.

v 3. In a linotype-machine, the combination oi two opposedInatriX-coniining jaws, means for advancing one of said jaws toward thev line, and means operated by said jaw to advance the second jaw in theopposite direction.

- 4. In a linotype-machine, the combination of two opposed movable jaws,and, intermediate connecting-levers, whereby the jaws are caused to movein opposite directions.

5. In a linotype-machine, opposed movable jaws to conne the matrices,means vfor advancing the two jaws simultaneously against the matrix-lineregardless of its length, and their operative positions.

6. In a linotype-machine, the two reciprocating jaws, means forautomatically advancing the jaws to centrally confine the matrix-lineregardless of its length, and means for locking the jaws in the castingposition.

7. In a linotype-machine, two opposed matrix-confining jaws, means forautomatically retracting the two jaws to the maximum distance, means forautomatically advancing the two jaws until arrested by the interveningmatrix-line without regard to its length, and means for locking the jawsin the inner position.

8. In a linotype-machine and in combination, two opposed movablematriX-connin jaws, mechanism for equally advancing an retracting thetwo jaws, said mechanism including means for releasing one jaw andpermitting it to remain at rest.

9. In a linotype-machine and in combination with a matriX-conining andmold-closing jaw', means for advancing said jaw over the mold andagainst the matrix-line, and adjustable mechanism whereby the second jawmay be caused to advance in opposition to the first, or permitted toremain at rest.

10. In a linotype-machine, two opposed matrix-confining jaws, means forseparating means Jfor locking the jaws in` the jaws to the maximumdistance prior to the introduction of the matrices them, and thereafteradvancing said jaws until arrested by the intervening matrices.

11. In a linotype-machine, a slotted mold, opposed jaws arranged toadvance. over and close the opposite ends of the mold and'to confine thematrices between them, in combination with mechanism for automaticallyseparating the jaws to admit the longest line, .and thereafterautomatically advancing the jaws until arrested by the interveningmatrices.

In testimony whereof I hereunto set my hand,this 23d day of June, 1906,in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

' PHILIP T. DODGE.

Witnesses:

WALTER Mosman,

F. M. EGGLEsToN.

etween IOO IIO

